Tie strip



March 8, 1966 w, HIVELY 3,239,407

TIE STRIP Filed NOV. 15, 1961 INVENTOR.

BORDEN W. HIVELY A TORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,239,407 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 3,239,407 TIE STRIP Borden W. Hively, 1189 Elmwood Ave., Columbus 12, Ohio Filed Nov. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 152,605 4 Claims. (Cl. 161175) This application relates to twist type tie strips of the extruded plastic type that are used to attach plants to supports, form closures for bags, and other similar applications.

In general the tie strip of the present invention includes an extruded plastic strip comprising a central web means provided with enlarged edge portions that are relatively blunt and hence form resilient cushioned edges that protect delicate pliant stems when the tie is made.

The cushioned edges are also advantageous for industrial applications as they protect a factory workers hands from cuts and abrasions in applications where volume tying operations .are manually performed.

As another aspect of the present invention the novel tie strip is adapted to form a smooth and compacted twisted portion when the .tie is made to form the loop. This advantageous feature results from the previously mentioned enlarged edge portions which bend the web portions radially inwardly when the twist is made.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel tie strip that will not damage delicate objects.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel tie strip that protects the hands of workers engaged in volume production tying operations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel tie strip that forms a relatively smooth and compacted tie when the loop is formed.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred forms of embodiments of the invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the tie strip of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end sectional view of the tie strip of FIG. 1, the section being taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the tie strips of the preceeding figures after the loop has been formed; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the looped tie strip of FIG. 3, the section being taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

Referring in detail to FIGS. l-4 of the tie strip of the present invention, in one of its modifications, comprises an extruded plastic strip indicated generally at 20 that includes an enlarged central portion 22 and oppositely extending relatively thin Web portions 24 and 26. The web portions 24 and 26 include longitudinally extending enlarged edge portions 28 and 30.

The central portion 22 of the extruded plastic strip includes a flexible wire core 32 formed of relatively soft metal. The function of wire core 32 is to provide the main structural strength for the tied loop. Plastic strip 20, on the other hand, forms a protective covering that prevents wire core 32 from biting in to the delicate stem of a plant when the twist is being made to form the loop.

Referring next to FIG. 3, the central portion of the strip is wrapped around a stem 34 of a plant, or other object, to form a loop indicated generally at 36.

When the ends of the strip are twisted they form a smooth and compact knot portion indicated generally at 40 in FIG. 3. The cross sectional configuration of knot portion 40 is shown in detail in FIG. 4 from which it will be understood that the forming of the twist bends web portions 24 and 26 and moves enlarged edge portions 28 and 30 radially inwardly against the outer surfaces of enlarged central portions 22.

From considering FIG. 4 it will be noted that the knot portion is relatively smooth and compact as a result of bending over the web portions when the edge portions 28 and 30 are moved radially inwardly by the twisting action.

it will be understood that various web and core constructions, including one or more webs, can be used in cooperation with enlarged cushioned edge portions without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

While the forms of embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A tie strip comprising, in combination, a flexible wire core; a strip of plastic material including a central portion surrounding said core, first and second web portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said central portion, each of said web portions including an enlarged outer edge portion parallel with said core, said web portions being relatively thin as compared to said edge portions whereby said web portions deform inwardly with said outer edge portions when lengths of said strip are twisted together, said strip portions being integrally formed by extrusion.

2. The tie strip defined in claim 1 wherein said outer edge portions are generally circular in cross-sectional shape.

3. A tie strip comprising a strip of plastic material including three spaced parallel enlarged portions joined by two co-planar webs, said webs being relatively thin as compared to said enlarged portion to permit inward deformation of said webs; and a flexible wire core in a central one of said three enlarged portions, said enlarged portions and webs being integrally formed by extrusion.

4. The tie strip defined in claim 1 wherein said central portion includes an enlarged longitudinally extending rib portion surrounding a flexible wirecore, said first and second webs extending laterally from the opposite sides of said rib portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,261 6/1956 Hardison. 2,767,113 10/1956 Bower.

3,082,292 3/1963 Gore.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,007,056 2/ 1952 France.

EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TIE STRIP COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FLEXIBLE WIRE CORE; A STRIP OF PLASTIC MATERIAL INCLUDING A CENTRAL PORTION SURROUNDING SAID CORE, FIRST AND SECOND WEB PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CENTRAL PORTION, EACH OF SAID WEB PORTIONS INCLUDING AN ENLARGED OUTER EDGE PORTION PARALLEL WITH SAID CORE, SAID WEB PORTIONS BEING RELATIVELY THIN AS COMPARED TO SAID EDGE PORTIONS WHEREBY SAID WEB PORTONS DEFORM INWARDLY WITH SAID OUTER EDGE PORTIONS WHEN LENGTHS OF SAID STRIP ARE TWISTED TOGETHER, SAID STRIP PORTIONS BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED BY EXTRUSION. 